Chapter 2

The bustling airport was alive with the chatter of travelers and the distant hum of jet engines as the four of us boarded the plane. The stale smell of recycled air and the cramped quarters of the economy-class seats did little to ease my nerves.

My stomach was in knots, a tangled mess of emotions. I was nervous about taking such a long flight, my palms sweaty as I gripped the armrest. Yet, beneath the anxiety, a flicker of excitement danced in my heart at the thought of going overseas for the first time.

I settled into the seat beside the window, and Justice slid in next to me. Lisa and Damon sat behind us, their laughter filling the air. As Justice's elbow brushed against mine, I caught a whiff of his spicy masculine scent, sending a rush of warmth through me. My heart raced as our shoulders slightly touched, igniting a spark of electricity between us.

Justice glanced at my white knuckles gripping the armrest. He cocked his eyebrow. "You're nervous about flying?"

"A little," I admitted with a sheepish smile. "My passport has never been stamped before."

His grin widened, revealing dimples and a perfect set of teeth, including sharp fangs. "Don't worry. We have an overnight flight, so you can sleep through most of it." He leaned in conspiratorially. "Plus, international flights are much smoother than domestic ones. You won't even feel the turbulence."

I looked at him skeptically. "Promise?"

He released a deep, weary sigh, and his shoulders slumped. "You can never trust me, can you?" I heard the hurt in his voice and saw it in his dark brown eyes.

My tone turned serious. "That's not true. You've been there when I really needed you. I wouldn't have gotten this far without you."

He shook his head, his gaze dropping to the floor. "No, you'd have survived. You're a fighter, Sawyer. You would have found a way to destroy the demons."

I placed my hand over his on the armrest, a wry smile tugging at my lips. "Maybe. Still, it's good to have a vampire at your side, especially when demons want to use you as a pin cushion."

He chuckled. "I guess I'm good for something."

My heart raced as I looked into his intense eyes. I struggled to find the words to express how much he meant to me, but they died on my lips.

My brother and Lisa had grown quiet behind us, and I felt Damon's sharp gaze burning into us. The last thing I wanted was to fight with Damon about why I shouldn't be attracted to a vampire. I knew all the reasons. Justice could be casting some dark magic to make me want him, but that wasn't it. It wasn't magic or a spell that drew me to him. It was his raw charisma and magnetism. He stirred something deep within me that no other man ever had or would.

The stewardess stopped spewing the same boring message about protocols if the plane crashed. I never wanted to hear those messages. Thinking about smashing into the ground or crashing into the ocean left me with the urge not to ever fly.

As the plane took off, I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched the armrest. The deafening roar of the engines rattled my bones, and I couldn't bring myself to even glance out the window.

A soft voice whispered in my ear. "Relax, fighter. I promise I'll protect you."

I opened my eyes to Justice's comforting smile, and a wave of reassurance blew over me like a warm summer breeze.

I gave him a tight smile, but my body was as tense as a stretched rubber band, ready to snap at the slightest provocation. My heart raced, and my palms grew clammy as I tried to maintain my composure.

He nudged me with a playful smirk. "Imagine that. A badass supernatural hunter afraid of an airplane ride," he teased.

I glared at him, my jaw clenching. "I don't fly that often."

His expression sobered, and he tilted his head, studying me. "Why?"

I hesitated, my gaze dropping to my hands. "Because my dad was afraid of flying. He was also in an airplane crash when he was a kid."

His gaze glazed over with shock. "Really? What happened?"

Dad rarely talked about it. I think airplanes scared him more than vampires or even demons. "It was during Christmas time, during a bad snowstorm. The plane had to make an emergency landing in Ohio and skidded off the runway."

Justice drew in a sharp breath and placed a comforting hand on my forearm. "I'm sorry, Sawyer. I had no idea."

The plane leveled out, and I inhaled deeply, my bunched muscles slowly unraveling. "Flying was never on the Grant family to-do list. We drove everywhere."

His rough fingers grazed his chin as he pondered. "I never would have figured that about your dad. His bravery is legendary."

I chuckled. "Except when it comes to flying. He turns into a whimpering wiener dog."

A deep laugh rumbled from his chest. It was warm and robust, and it brought a smile to my lips.

The stewardess came over to take our drink orders. "What can I get for you?"

She wasn't looking at me, though. She was staring at Justice as if she wanted to get his autograph.

I ordered a glass of red wine.

Justice glanced at his watch. "Starting early, aren't you? It's only ten o'clock in the morning."

I shrugged. "I need something to calm my nerves."

"How about a movie?" He looked at his phone. "That might relax you for a bit."

"Sure, why not? You pick."

I stared out the window at the expansive plains that defined this part of Colorado. The late morning sun cast long shadows over the patchwork of farmland, small towns, and winding rivers stretching to the horizon. Fields of wheat and corn shifted in the breeze, their golden and green hues blending a quilt of agricultural bounty. Here and there, the silver glint of a river or reservoir mirrored the sky, a stark contrast to the earthy tones of the land.

"Do you like Wonder Woman?" Justice's voice broke through my thoughts.

I turned and frowned. "Why that one?"

"Because she reminds me of you." His dark eyes sparkled. "Beautiful, but a badass."

A blush crept onto my cheeks as I rolled my eyes at his cheesy compliment. I cleared my throat. "Wonder Woman is fine."

The stewardess came back with my wine and Justice's sparkling water. There were small screens on the backs of the seats in front of us, and the stewardess gave us earplugs so we could watch the movie without disturbing the other passengers.

As the movie progressed, I relaxed, the wine and the gentle hum of the airplane engines lulling me into a sense of calm. My eyelids grew heavy, and I struggled to focus on the screen.

Before I knew it, my head was nodding, and I fell back onto my seat. In my sleepy haze, I couldn't bring myself to care about propriety. I tried not to invade Justice's space, but his shoulder was so warm and solid. I finally gave into temptation and let my head rest against him, the earplug falling out as I drifted to sleep.

Through my drowsiness, I vaguely registered Justice's arm shifting, gently supporting my back as he adjusted his position to make me more comfortable. His scent, a mix of sandalwood and something uniquely him, enveloped me, and I sighed contentedly, allowing myself to be pulled into a deep, peaceful slumber…

The plane jolted violently, and I woke with a start, my heart thundering, the rose tattoo on my arm burning. Danger was nearby. "What's happening?" I gasped, disoriented and filled with dread.

Justice's seat was empty, and I looked around in a daze. To my horror, all the passengers had vanished. The eerie silence was broken only by the hum of the engines. I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt and stood, my legs shaking.

"Damon?" My voice was barely a whisper, fear gripping my throat.

There was no answer behind me. I jumped up and looked over the back of my seat, only to discover he and Lisa were gone. The plane seemed to stretch endlessly, a hollow shell devoid of life.

Soft footsteps approached me, each step echoing in the unnatural stillness. "Panicking, Sawyer?" a familiar voice purred, dripping with malice.

I grimaced, my blood running cold. Slowly, I turned. Maci stood in the aisle, her brown eyes filled with hatred and a sinister gleam. The shadows around her seemed to writhe and dance as if alive.

Suddenly, a deafening crack rent the air, and the plane shuddered violently. Wind screamed inside the cabin, plastering me against the window. My heart raced, and my hair whipped around me in a wild blonde mess. I glanced up in horror as the plane's ceiling split open, revealing a swirling, inky void.

Maci's long, dark hair billowed around her. She tilted her head back, her face contorting into a grotesque smile. "This is a warning, girl," she hissed, her voice reverberating through the chaos. "I will kill everyone you love, one by one, and you will be the last to die. If you want to save them, abandon this foolish quest."

I raised my head high. "It sounds like you're afraid of us, Maci. We won't back down, and you know it." My small voice sounded stronger than I expected.

Maci's lips curled into a cruel smile as she gestured toward the shadowy figures. "Very well, foolish one. This is the next demon you'll have to fight." Her voice dripped with malice. "They think highly of themselves and demand respect. Let's see how you fare against them."

The shadows around Maci grew darker, and grotesque shapes formed within them. The air grew thick and heavy, pressing down on me like a physical weight. A foul stench filled my nostrils, a combination of sulfur and decay, making my stomach churn.

The shapes within the shadows twisted and writhed, and to my horror, they took on a more defined form. Long, spindly fingers emerged, followed by gnarled hands that reached for me, their skin a shiny black with blood dripping from their long fingernails.

I opened my mouth to scream, but the sound caught in my throat as the grotesque hands curled their fingers around my neck. The touch was icy cold and clammy, sending shivers down my spine. I gasped for air, but the grip tightened, cutting off my scream and my breath.

The fingers dug into my flesh, and I felt bruises forming beneath their relentless pressure. Panic surged through me. My heart pounded in my ears, a deafening drumbeat that drowned out everything else. My lungs burned, desperate for oxygen, and black spots danced in my vision.

As my eyes slowly closed, the last thing I heard before I passed out was Maci's cruel laughter. The chilling sound echoed in my mind, taunting me with the promise of unimaginable horrors to come. The laughter reverberated through my entire being, mixing with the pulsing pain in my head and the agonizing ache in my chest.

The world around me faded away, leaving me in a void of darkness…